Here in California, nearly 1 in 8 people face food insecurity every day. “Food insecurity” is the occasional or constant lack of access to the food one needs for a healthy, active life. For the 4.9 million Californians struggling with food insecurity, hard choices must be made between buying food and meeting such basic needs as housing, medicine, transportation, or childcare. Food insecurity disproportionately affects children and seniors. Tragically, 1 out of every 4 California kids may go to bed hungry each night. While the impact of hunger is not always obvious, its effects are present in nearly all of our communities and classrooms.

Thankfully, CAFB, its member food banks, and its allies in the public and private sectors are working hard to make sure that more Californians are able to receive the food they need for healthy, productive lives.

If you’ve come to learn more about hunger in California (and the ways CAFB is working to fight it), you’ve come to the right place. For a quick overview, check out our Hunger in California Fact Sheet.